Rosacea and Demodex

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a frustrating skin condition. Skin is inflamed, sore, blood shot and sensitive. Make up can cover it up, and the best skin care products can managed the condition, but what causes it? It has long been believed that genetics are the root cause of rosacea. Celtic and Scandinavian backgrounds are most susceptible to the condition, but genetics alone may not be to blame. Continuing research gives us some more insight into the microscopic world of rosacea.

Acne rosacea or rosacea (row-zay-sha) is a chronic, inflammatory condition that tends to effect adults. Exacerbations (flare-ups) occur across the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin.

Types of lesions common in rosacea include:

Erythematotelangiectatic lesions. It might be hard to say, but it is easy to spot. These are tiny, irregular red lines caused by capillaries under the skin. This is the “trademark” of rosacea.

Papulopustular lesions are small, raised pustules. They spread out and might look like a rash of pimples.

Phymatous lesions are overgrowths of the sebaceous glands. Phyma is the Greek word for overgrown, and these lesions can occur on the forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks and chin.

Lesions of the eye are called ocular lesions. The skin around the eye is affected and the eye itself can become bloodshot. Eye disorders such as conjunctivitis often accompany rosacea.

What causes rosacea?

Rosacea is colloquially known as the curse of the Celts, as it is more common in peoples of British Celtic origin. However; rosacea has also been identified commonly in peoples of Scandinavian descent, and can occur is all ethnic groups. Rosacea skin inflammation occurs on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin.

There are lesions accompanied by redness, swelling and pain, which is made worse by sun light. Not only is sensitive, rosacea type skin prone to sun damage, but UV rays activating capillary growth, adding to redness and inflammation.

What is demodex?

Demodex folliculorum is a type of arachnid skin mite that lives in hair follicles. Demodex it is unable to excrete, and it grows in size. As it eats more and more, eventually it dies and the decay is left on the pores of the skin. It is thought that in susceptible patients, the immune system mounts a response and inflammation occurs.

Demodex’s link with rosacea is not new, but the evidence was not as conclusive. Recent research has investigated the immune response of patients who have demodex present, with and without rosacea.

80% of patients with rosacea had immune responses to the demodex mite, compared to 40% in the non rosacea group. It appears that there is more to rosacea than just genetics for some patients. It is hoped by researchers that new rosacea treatments will be developed in the future.

What are the best skin care products for rosacea?

The best skin care products for rosacea are prescribed to manage your specific skin needs. The best skin care products are ones that are gentle on the skin, are calming and helps the skin build up its protective barrier, which can be degraded through inflammation. As always, use an SPF in the sun to reduce sun damage and reduce flare ups.

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We are Dietitians and Nutritionists, Speech Pathologists and Skincare Specialists. We see adults and children from our office in Randwick. Passionate about health and wellbeing, we write about issues relevant to our clinical practice.